Shall We Dance? with Koji Yakusho: DVD Cover
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Shall We Dance? Director: Masayuki Suo Cast: Koji Yakusho, Tamiyo Kusakari, Naoto Takenaka, Hideko Hara

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  • DVD Release Date: 02/01/2005
  • Original Release: 1995
  • Rating: Rated PG
  • Sales Rank: 6,633

Viewer Rating: (6 ratings)

Detailed Rating: "The Script" See All

 
  • Overview
  • Editorial Reviews
  • Scenes
  • Customer Reviews
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Features

Closed Caption; A look inside Hollywood's Shall We Dance? theatrical release starring Richard Gere and Jennifer Lopez

Full Product Details

Scene Index

Side #1 --
1. To Dance or Not to Dance [2:34]
2. Mr. Suglyama, Workaholic [6:19]
3. Two Left Feet [11:35]
4. Group Lessons [3:58]
5. "One-Trick Rumba" [7:31]
6. Free Consultation [4:59]
7. Sensei [3:43]
8. Not Giving Up [4:04]
9. Too Good to Dance [8:40]
10. Toyoko's Breakdown [1:05]
11. No Hesitation [6:34]
12. Reason to Dance [6:06]
13. Amateur Competition [3:40]
14. Waltzing for An Audience [10:00]
15. Letter From Mai [6:09]
16. Apologies Accepted [7:14]
17. "Shall We Dance?" [8:54]
18. Credits [4:02]

Scene Index

Editorial Reviews

Reminiscent of the Australian hit Strictly Ballroom (1992), this romantic comedy from Japan was a hit in its country of origin, despite (or perhaps because of) its tacit criticisms of the restrictive aspects of Japanese culture. Shohei Sugiyama (Koji Yakusho) is a typically strait-laced Japanese businessmen who, passing by in his commuter train one day, glimpses a beautiful young woman, Mai (real-life ballerina Tamiyo Kusakari) through the window of a dance school. Obsessed with her, Shohei enrolls in the school and meets instructor Mai, who at first mistakes Shohei for a philanderer. To her surprise, however, Shohei is a naturally gifted dancer interested in an artistic partnership only, and Mai begins training with him for a competition. Meanwhile, Shohei becomes familiar with his eccentric fellow students, including one person that Shohei already knows, a co-worker (Akira Emoto) who blooms in the dance sessions as a bewigged master of rumba. As dancing is frowned upon in Japan as a frivolous enterprise for a respectable businessman, Shohei keeps his sideline hobby secret, leading his wife to believe that he's being unfaithful and to hire a private investigator to follow him. Karl Williams, All Movie Guide

Customer Reviews

The original is the best.by lewisgatlin

Reader Rating:
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May 02, 2009: For those that may have only seen the American remake of this movie, starring Richard Gere, you should see the original Japanese version. I think you'll see the first is the best. This story of an office worker trapped by a large mortgage, a mind-numbing job, and a marriage where every day goes by exactly the same, starts slowly with an offhand glance from a rail car. Each step of the path up to the dance academy is a difficult decision. But the potential for great reward drives our repressed salaryman, Mr. Sugiyama, to overcome his fears and sign up for dance lessons.

With not a single cardboard character around, the movie shines with realistic portrayals throughout. And while you hope for, and expect, a happy ending, you won't be sure about the outcome until late in the game.

So there's just one question left...shall we dansu?

Sensitive and Delightfulby Anonymous

Reader Rating:
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November 25, 2003: Having lived for nearly 3 years in Japan, the honesty and tenderness shown in this film rang true for me. The characters were much like real Japanese we got to know. This is an unusually sensitive Japanese film and a delight to watch!

This review was written about the VHS edition.


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